Folding car-step



(No Model.)

qw. RADEBAUGH.

Folding Car Step. v

-- Patented Dec. 7, 1880.

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAH W. RADEBAUGH, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

FOLDING CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 235,291, dated December 7, 1880. Application filed May 1, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH W. RADEBAUGH, of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented new and Improved Folding Oar-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide folding or adjustable car-steps for both sides of a railroad-car that can be simultaneously adjusted by one movement of alever.

The invention consists of steps suspended by hinged yokes from the outer edges of the lower fixed steps of a railroad-car, said suspended steps being supported in an open or extended position by curved slotted catches and slides, and being extended simultaneously or folded beneath the lower car-steps by the operation of a single lever.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a car with the device attached. Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of a car-platform and steps, showing the folding steps in position when closed on line 3 y, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on line as m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents a railroadcar. B B are the fixed steps thereof.

0 0 represent the adjustable or folding steps, that are suspended from the lower fixed steps of the car by the bent rods or yokes D D, which are hinged to said fixed steps by the hinges or eyebolts a a.

E E are curved slides, provided with notches b 1) near their lower ends, whose upper ends are fastened to the under side of the car-platform, as shown, while their lower ends are secured to the rears of the lower fixed steps, B B.

F F are two slotted curved catches, each one having its lower end secured to the under side of a folding step, 0, while its upper and slotted end embraces a curved slide, E and is movable thereon.

G is the actuating-lever, pivoted at c to a plate, H, that is projected downward through the front of the car-platform, the head of said plate H, which projects above the car-platform, being of semicircular outline, and being provided with holes 01 d, for the engagement therein of the pin f of the said lever G when it is desired to hold the folding steps 0 0 open or folded.

I I are rods connecting said lever G, one rod I connecting with said lever G above its pivot c, and the other rod I connecting below the pivot c with the sides of the yokes D D.

L is an elbow secured to the back of said lever G, and turning downward behind the plate H; and K is a spring secured to the lower end of said elbow L, and having its free end pressing against said plate H, in order to hold the lever-pin f engaged in a platehole, d.

M is a brace extending from the under side of the car-platform to the plate H to support the latter.

In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the folding steps 0 (J are held open by the engagement of the notches b b of the slides E E in the slots of the catches F F and by means of the lever G and rods I I, as shown, the pin f of said lever G being engaged in one of the holes d d of the plate H, the spring K, that is fastened on the elbow L of said lever G, operating to hold said lever in place.

In order to fold said steps 0 G beneath the car-steps B B the lever G is disengaged from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and swung in the opposite direction, whereby the ends of the yokes D D are pulled inward along the ends of the lower fixed steps of the car by means of the connecting-rods I I, and the steps C (J are folded upward and rearward against the under sides of the lower fixed steps, B B, by the consequent upward movement of the slotted catches FF on the slides E E.

These folding steps 0 O are of great advantage to passengers when getting into or out of cars at stopping-places where there are no platforms, or where the cars stop out of reach from a platform, and they can at once be folded, so as not to interfere with the full use of the fixed steps.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with the folding carsteps 0 C, of the hinged yokes 1) I), curved 3 (J and yokes I), of the slides E, having notches slides E E, slotted catches F 1 lever G, and b, and the slotted curved catches F, as and rods I I, substantialiy as herein shown and fur the purpose specified. described, whereby said stops are simultzme JOSIAH W. RADEBAUGH.

5 ously folded beneath the fixod canstops ml \Yitmsscs:

are extended, as set fortln I). '1. MCNAGIITEN, 2. The combination, with the folding stops JAMES M. LOREN. 

